Recap: Three Point Nights From Zibanejad & Panarin Secure 4-1 Win Over Detroit

First original six matchup of the season as the Rangers played hosts to the Detroit Red Wings. Lots of former friends in this one with Tyler Motte, Andrew Copp, Vlad Tarasenko,  Patrick Kane, Cam Talbot and Erik Gustafsson who was a healthy scratch all making returns to the Garden. This would be the first of two match-ups between the two in this home and home stretch this week as the Rangers looked to bounce back from their overtime loss in the home opener over the weekend. 

1st Period:

Not the most exciting start from either side in this one as play through the first half of the opening period was pretty uneventful. Just a couple of minutes out from the ten minute mark, Alexis Lafrenière took the first penalty of the night for high sticking, briefly sending the Rangers to the penalty kill. Just twenty seconds into the man advantage, a collision between Mika Zibanejad and Mo Seider sent the Red Wings defender off for interference, setting the teams up for 100 seconds of 4-on-4 hockey.

Following some back and forth at either end of the ice, neither team saw much action with the Rangers maintaining possession as Lafrenière returned to the ice. This allowed them to attempt to set up for an extremely brief man advantage but wouldn’t be enough to generate anything substantial. 

With only two shots on goal throughout the first half of the period, the Rangers didn’t have much to show for offensively. A strong shift from the second (first) line began with a quality scoring chance for Vincent Trocheck on the rush and ended with Alexis Lafrenière’s second of the season. A great look from Artemiy Panarin found Lafrenière for the knee down one timer on the right door step, 1-0 Rangers. 

On the following shift, Filip Chyil took a stick between the arms in the defensive zone which sent Austin Watson off for hooking. The Rangers top power play unit took the ice and stayed out there for the entirety of the two minutes, dominating possession. Alas, they couldn’t find the back of the net again despite some good looks. 

The excitement picked up a bit in the final minute of the period as Victor Mancini had an outstanding individual effort on the rush to move around Simon Edvinsson and take the puck to the net. 

Unfortunately, the Red Wings would go the other way with it and a patient play from Justin Holl found a wide open Dylan Larkin in the slot to dish the puck to the back of the net in the final seconds of the period. 

An unideal end to an otherwise adequate opening period for the Rangers. After twenty minutes, shots were tied at ten apiece with neither team converting on their power play chances. The Rangers had the edge in both face-offs and scoring chances, although not many high danger ones from either side. 

2nd Period:

The Rangers were back to the penalty kill just two and a half minutes into the middle period as Chris Kreider was sent off for hooking. The Red Wings were far more active to start the second and were certainly buzzing with the man advantage. Igor Shesterkin came up with a handful of strong saves on high danger scoring chances from Detroit’s top unit which included a flashy glove save on a point blank chance that wouldn’t have counted since it followed a high stick. Still, great to see Shesterkin dialed in on the play. 

With the teams back to even strength and the Rangers going the other way with the puck, Artemiy Panarin was able to draw another Detroit penalty as he was really cooking offensively early in this one. As Ben Chiarot went off for hooking, the top power play unit returned to the ice but would again go without converting. Mika Zibanejad was shooting the puck a bit more but still seemed to lack the kind of tenacity you want to see there. The top unit remained out there for most of the advantage but the second unit got the chance to close it out, managing to generate a strong scoring chance involving Reilly Smith in front. Might be time to consider utilizing them more.

A minute and a half out from the midway point of the night, Jonny Brodzinski sent the Rangers back to the penalty kill as he got his stick tangled up with Lucas Raymond in the neutral zone. A strong kill from the Rangers kept the puck in Detroit's end of the ice for a good portion of the power play which kept things locked at two through the front nine. Aside from that, the tide was turning significantly throughout the period as the Red Wings were keeping Shesterkin busy, keeping the Rangers in it. 

With just a couple of minutes to go, Vincent Trocheck had a top notch chance right in the slot but a big gloves save from Alex Lyon kept things locked at one each. With three minutes to go, Adam Edström took a stick to the face from Justin Holl to send the Rangers back to the power play. Just a few seconds into the man advantage the Rangers found the back of the net. A great passing play from Fox and Panarin set up Zibanejad who let a quick shot deflect off a net front Chris Kreider for his third of the season to make it a 2-1 game. 

The Red Wings wasted no time making a push to get back in this one as a Filip Chytil turnover allowed for a high danger chance from JT Compher who was all alone in front of the net. Another massive glove save from Shesterkin was able to help hold on to the lead to close out the second. Adam Fox nearly made it a 3-1 game as a backhand shot from him found the back of the net just after the buzzer sounded. Shots now 23-20 in favor of Detroit.

3rd Period:

The Rangers got a bit of a gift to kick off the third as Alex Lyon was awarded a delay of game penalty as the net came off the moorings within the first minute of the period. Back to the power play who was 1-for-4 on the night going into this one but again, weren’t converting on any of their looks. The second unit got a longer look this time around however the score would remain as the teams returned to even strength. 

While it hasn’t been the best start to the season for Mika Zibanejad, he has been stellar in the face-off circles and sure enough, another offensive zone face-off win directly led to a quick shot from Reilly Smith that beat Lyon for his first as a New York Ranger. 

Lots of back and forth with special teams tonight as the Rangers were back to the penalty kill with about twelve minutes to go. This time, it was Mika Zibanejad getting called for tripping as he got an already falling Lucas Raymond with the stick in the neutral zone. Without one of their top penalty killers, the Rangers were tasked with killing a fourth Detroit power play and managed to do so, holding on to that 3-1 lead. 

The pace settled down significantly from there and with 2:44 to go, the Red Wings pulled Alex Lyon for the extra attacker. After Sam Carrick and Vincent Trocheck fumbled the empty net chance, the Rangers played keep away for a little bit before Panarin finally found Mika Zibanejad to put it home for his first of the season. Great for Zibanejad to get the first one in the books but man, you have to think everyone wanted K’Andre Miller to pass it back to Shesterkin when he had the time and space to go for the empty netter. 

That would do it for this one as the Rangers skated away with a 4-1 win in a solid bounce back effort. Finally shots on goal tally would be 32-28 Detroit with Igor Shesterkin playing a huge part in the Rangers winning this game. The two teams will be back at it Thursday Night in Detroit.